Rampal taken to his Satlok Ashram, search on

Barwala: Arrested 'godman' Rampal was on Sunday taken to his Satlok Ashram in connection with the probe being conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Haryana Police, which will question him on the recoveries, including arms and ammunition, that have been made.

63-year-old Rampal, who was arrested on November 19 from his ashram, spread over 12 acres in Hisar district, was taken by the police to the complex for further investigation as they made more recoveries from the premises, where a thorough search has been going on for the last four days.

Rampal, who was produced before the Punjab and Haryana High Court a day after his arrest in connection with a contempt of court case, was later remanded in police custody for five days by a court in Hisar after fresh cases were slapped on him.

The police on Sunday said he will be questioned in connection with the recoveries, including arms and cartridges, made from the ashram, which is located in this Haryana town. There are many lockers inside the ashram and the police will quiz him about these as well.

During the standoff between Rampal's followers and the police, five women and an infant had died, while more than 200 people were injured in the clashes on Tuesday.

For the search operation, the police have divided the ashram into three zones. The underground bunkers are also being searched.

On Saturday, the police had found a bullet-proof vehicle, an oil-tanker, two tractors and many two-wheelers among other items from the ashram.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition, petrol bombs and acid syringes were found from the highly fortified complex. The police have found three .32 bore revolvers, 19 air guns, two 12 bore double barrel guns, two .315 bore rifles, 28 cartridges of .32 bore, 50 cartridges of 12 bore and 25 cartridges of .315 bore.

The sprawling complex was found to be under constant surveillance of CCTV cameras installed at several key points to keep tabs on the movements of followers, who largely came from low-income strata.

The police said that the search operation will continue for a few days more as the ashram was spread over a vast area.